GRADUATE PROGRAM
Veritas Evangelical Seminary's Graduate Program* is open to mature Christian men and women who are academically and spiritually qualified as evidenced by prior undergraduate study leading to the earning of an accredited bachelors degree, or its equivalent. Spiritual qualifications are demonstrated through pastoral and general references included in the student's admission packet as well as their signed agreement with the VES Doctrinal Statement of Faith.
The program involves rigorous study in specified fields pertaining to Bible, theology, apologetics, and pastoral studies, which demands the student's time and diligence in order to complete (2 Tim. 2:15). Each course of study strongly emphasizes a protestant evangelical understanding of classical theology, and biblical inerrancy in line with the Intenational Council of Biblical Inerrancy (ICBI). Full-time study consists of enrolling in one course per month (i.e. 12 courses per academic year). Individual courses may be completed in any order except for biblical language courses.
Students will be admitted to the VES graduate program which offers a number of academic outcomes depending on your chosen course of study which lasts for either one, two, or three years of full-time study. The student may also pursue their course of study on a part-time basis over longer periods of time. After one year of full-time study the student may graduate with a Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) degree, after two years of full-time study the student may earn either a Master of Christian Apologetics (M.C.A.) or Master of Biblical Studies (M.B.S.) degree, or after three years of full-time study the student may earn the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree. Students may also pursue their chosen course of study either part-time or full-time through our External Studies department (either online or DVDs sent by mail).
Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) **
The Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) is a 36 unit degree designed to be completed in one (1) year of full time study. This course of study is strong in classical theology. It is specially suited for lay persons seeking to engage in non-professional Christian ministry by developing a theological and apologetic understanding of the doctrines of Christianity. The program provides in-depth foundational theological training for those who desire greater affectiveness in church ministry, evangelism, theological education, missions, apologetics and personal study of God's word. Upon completion of the M.T.S. degree, the student will have demonstrated knowledge in systematic and historical theology, Christian apologetics and competence in Old and New Testament content.
The course of study objectives are:
1. To prepare the student to research and write in a manner that is hermeneutically and theologically sound.
2. To prepare the student to clearly articulate Christian theology in the church, para-church, or other ministry venue.
The Master of Theological Studies program also serves as the core requirements for all other degree and certificate programs.
NOTE: The M.T.S. course of study is offered in residence every other year beginning in the current March 2009 through March 2010 academic term. After the current M.T.S. cycle is complete in March 2010, the next M.T.S. residence offering will begin in March/April 2011. The M.T.S. degree may be completed entirely or in part through external studies courses when residence courses are unavailable.
The following courses comprise the 36 unit M.T.S. degree:
OT510 Old Testament Survey I (3 units) and OT520 Old Testament Survey II (3 units)
or
OT515 Old Testament Survey (3 units) and BL500 Biblical Languages (3 units)
TH520 Biblical Hermeneutics (3 units)
NT510 New Testament Survey I (3 units)
NT520 New Testament Survey II (3 units)
TH530 Prolegomena and Bibliology (3 units)
TH540 Theology Proper and Creation (3 units)
Master of Biblical Studies (M.B.S.)
The Master of Biblical Studies (M.B.S.) course of study is a 66 unit course of study designed to be completed in two (2) years of full time study. This program builds upon the core requirements offered in the M.T.S. degree. This is accomplished by adding 30 units of biblical studies courses involving the study of the original biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek), hermeneutics, two Old or New Testament book studies, and understanding the interaction between the Christian gospel in light of culture and linguistics. This route is designed for those individuals who seek to be prepared to lead and teach the Scriptures in the church such as pastors, para-church leaders, or for those engaged in other ministry related activities. The Master of Biblical Studies (M.B.S.) degree is ideal for those pastors, or lay persons who do not have previous formal training in the original languages.
The course of study objectives are:
1. To prepare the student to teach the Scriptures in the church or other ministry venue.
2. To prepare the student to research and write in a manner that is hermeneutically and theologically sound.
The following courses comprise the 66 units of the M.B.S. program:
OT510 Old Testament Survey I (3 units) and OT520 Old Testament Survey II (3 units)
or
OT515 Old Testament Survey (3 units) and One Elective (3 units)
NT500 The New Testament in First-Century Context or OT505 Intro to the Dead Sea Scrolls (3 units)
NT510 New Testament Survey I (3 units)
NT520 New Testament Survey II (3 units)
TH520 Bibical Hermeneutics (3 units)
TH530 Prolegomena and Bibliology (3 units)
TH540 Theology Proper and Creation (3 units)
TH550 Christology and Pneumatology (3 units)
TH550 Hamartiology and Soteriology (3 units)
TH560 Ecclesiology and Eschatology (3 units)
TH570 Historical Theology (3 units)
AP501 Introduction to Christian Apologetics (3 units)
OT500 Ancient Near Eastern Contexts for the Old Testament (3 units)
Old and/or New Testament Book Study (9 units)
BLH501/502 Hebrew I and II
BLG501/502 Greek I and II
RW499 Theological Research and Writing Skills (P/F)
CM501/502/503Church/Mission Experience I, II,
Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree program is a 93 unit course of study that is designed to be completed in three (3) years of full time study. This program builds upon the core requirements offered in the M.T.S. degree and upon either the Master of Biblical Studies (M.B.S.) route or the Master of Christian Apologetics (M.C.A.) route. If the student chooses to complete the Master of Divinity in Apologetics, there are no Hebrew or Greek language requirements as there is in the Biblical Studies track. The Divinity program is accomplished by adding an aditional 27 units in courses related to pastoral ministry. The M.Div. program is designed as a professional degree which prepares students to be competent in a variety of pastoral and non-pastoral ministry opportunities traditionally encountered in church related leadership experiences. From this program the student may choose any of the above routes (i.e. M.T.S., M.B.S., M.C.A., or M.Div.) to earn the degree of choice.
The course of study objectives are:
1. To prepare the student to interpret the Scriptures from a historical, grammatical, and literal perspective using biblical languages (through the biblical studies tract).
2. To prepare the student to interpret the Scriptures from a historical, grammatical, and literal perspective being able to confront ancient and modern ideologies that threaten the doctrinal and moral welfare of the church (through the apologetics tract).
3. To prepare the student to serve the church with skill and faithfulness by accurately teaching biblical and theological studies.
4. To prepare the student to apply biblical content and theology as expressed in the seminary's doctrinal statement to teaching, preaching, discipleship, missions, and in evangelism, as well as in confronting contemporary moral and theological issues which challenge the church.
The following eight (9) courses comprise the additional 27 units of the M.Div. program:
PH500 Philosophy of Christian Education (3 units)
PM510 Christian Leadership Principles (3 units)
PM520 Biblical Counseling (3 units)
PM530 Pastoral Care (3 units)
PM540 Homiletics (3 units)
PM550 Principles and Theology of Missions (3 units)
CH580 History of the Church (3 units)
FC510 Gospel and Culture (3 units)
RW502 Thesis or One Elective (3 units)
CM501/502/503/504 Church/Mission Experience I, II, III, IV (P/F)
*The 27 units above will be completed by independent study with a VES professor, in residence, or through external studies.
Certificate of Completion
The Certificate of Completion program is available to all students who do not desire to pursue graduate credit or who lack the academic prerequisites for admission to the graduate degree programs. All Certificate students will complete the identical program of study and assigned coursework as graduate students. Each Certificate student must declare a major during the admission process. If in the future the student's academic undergraduate (bachelor's degree) prerequisites are fulfilled, he/she may be admitted to a graduate program and convert all Certificate credit into graduate credit by paying the difference in tuition costs between the two programs. In addition, the Certificate program is ideal for those who are concurrently fulfilling their undergraduate requirements but wish to begin their seminary studies.
Students seeking admission to the Certificate program should have demonstrated previous pastoral or leadership skills for Christian ministry. In addition, applicants should have completed approximately two years of an undergraduate program or the equivalent.
Audit Students
Students who do not desire to take a course for credit may audit any course upon payment of $200 per course in addition to the $10 Registration Fee and the one-time Annual Administration Fee ($25) due upon enrollment into your first course of the year. Audit students are required to complete the admission packet though they are not required to submit references or transcripts of prior academic study. External studies students must add an additional technology fee of $25. Audit students are not permitted to participate in exams or submit coursework for grading. All external studies audit students must submit their notes taken from video lectures in order to receive audit credit. Resident audit students must attend at least 80% of the course lectures to receive audit credit. Notes are not required for resident audit students.
*Subject to change and contingent upon California State approval.
**Required core curriculum for all courses of study..